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Dear Sir,I write this letter with a heavy heart & deep sense of embarrassment.I’m old enough to know that one doesn’t talk ill of the dead. And I hope you are also old enough to be in the know of my personal relationship with Late Arun Jaitley was never quite on the same page. Let’s say we weren’t really cricketing buddies when he was the President of DDCA. My reservations about the choice of people he hand picked to run the day to day affairs of DDCA is well known. I remember walking out from a meeting at his residence whence he was unable to throw out a rowdy element using terribly foul language. I think I was too head strong..too Old school..& too proud an Indian cricketer to be co-opted into the corrupt darbar of sycophants Arun Jaitley mustered at the Kotla during his stewardship.Related

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It pains me no end to point out the far from flattering facts about DDCA’s unsavoury past, but trust me it has a context. I was not raised to carry on the fight to the next generation. But I was also taught that if I firmly believe in taking a stand I must stick with it. But sadly this is how it has unfolded. Keep in mind, these are the ills of nepotism-you get blamed for decisions you weren’t part of and you can’t even give the excuse of absence.As I observe now even in your leadership DDCA’s court culture of fawning obeisance continues. After the Feroze Shah Kotla was named hurriedly & most undeservingly after Late Arun Jaitley my reaction then was maybe somehow good sense might prevail to keep Kotla sacrosanct. How wrong I was. Now I gather a statue of Late Arun Jaitley is going to be installed at the Kotla. I’m not at all enamoured with the thought of a statue of Arun Jaitley coming up at Kotla.I pride myself as a man of immense tolerance & patience..but all that I’m afraid is running out. DDCA has truly tested me & forced me to take this drastic action.The Kotla was named after Arun Jaitley following his death in 2019•India Today Group/Getty Images

So, Mr President I request you to remove my name from the stand named after me with immediate effect. Also, I hereby renounce my DDCA membership. I’ve taken this decision with sufficient deliberations. I’m not prone to disregard the honour that was bestowed upon me. My gratitude to Justice Sen & the Committee of M/s Dr ND Puri..Dr Ravi Chaturvedi..Vijay Lokapally..& Neeru Bhatia..all people of social & professional eminence..who extended the warm gesture to Mohinder Amarnath & myself..will never fade. But as we all know with honour comes responsibility. They feted me for the total respect & integrity with which I played the game. And now I’m returning the honour just to assure them all that four decades after my retirement, I still retain those values.A mere google search would have helped to know that Late Arun Jaitley’s tenure at DDCA was riddled with corruption. You being a lawyer should also know the cases of massive misappropriation of funds are still pending in courts.Late Arun Jaitley I’m told was an able politician. So its the Parliament & not a cricket stadium which needs to remember him for posterity. He might have been a good cricket fan too, but his dalliance with cricket administration was dubious & left much to desired. This is not a rhetorical assessment but a factual appraisal of his time at DDCA. Take my word, failures don’t need to be celebrated with plaques & busts. They need to be forgotten.Mr President if ever you get to travel to the cricket stadiums around the world you will find how aesthetically challenged Kotla is and how it lacks the grandeur of a Test Centre. You need to be educated that sports administrators don’t need to be self serving. People who surround you presently will never inform you that it’s WG Grace at Lord’s..Sir Jack Hobbs at the Oval..Sir Donald Bradman at the SCG…Sir Garfield Sobers at Barbados & Shane Warne of recent vintage at the MCG..who adorn their cricket stadia with the Spirit of Cricket never out of place..so when the kids walk into these stadiums these majestic statues/busts enhance & enliven the inspiring stories of these past heroes that their elders tell them. Sporting arenas need sporting role models. The place of the administrators is in their glass cabins.Since DDCA doesn’t understand this Universal cricket culture, I need to walk out of it. I can’t be part of a stadium which has got its priorities so grossly wrong & where administrators get precedence over the cricketers. Please bring down my name from the stand with immediate effect. You needn’t worry about me or my legacy. God Almighty has been very kind to me to keep me alive with my cricketing convictions. I don’t wish my strength of character to be maligned by my silence or association to this unsporting act.Thankfully…bishan bedi.

A £21 million player is reportedly very tempted to join Tottenham this summer, coming after a potentially "concrete" offer behind the scenes.

Postecoglou targets Spurs overhaul over multiple transfer windows

Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou has been forthright in his vision, as he seeks to build a winning team at N17 and orchestrate a rebuild of the current squad.

£25 million attacker who Ange personally wants has agreed to join Tottenham

The Lilywhites could be on the verge of a second summer signing.

1 ByEmilio Galantini Jun 26, 2024

Postecoglou wants a new-centre-back, midfielder and striker at Tottenham this summer, with the Australian already seeing Timo Werner's loan deal extended for another season. Chairman Daniel Levy is ready to back the Lilywhites head coach after a promising debut campaign, as Tottenham came very close to sealing fourth in their first year without club-record goalscorer Harry Kane.

A fair few players could depart N17 as well, coming after they released Ivan Perisic, Eric Dier, Japhet Tanganga, Ryan Sessegnon and Tanguy Ndombele already. Tottenham recently attempted a player-plus-cash bid to sign Jacob Ramsey from Aston Villa, which included out-of-favour midfielder Giovani Lo Celso.

Postecoglou believes it will take three or four windows of transfers before Spurs are a major force, though, and has urged patience in their potential rise to the top.

Son Heung-min

7.30

James Maddison

7.17

Pedro Porro

7.04

Cristian Romero

7.03

Dejan Kulusevski

6.96

"We've got a lot of work to do still on the squad and I don't think we're anywhere near where we want to be," said Postecoglou on Tottenham's current squad.

"It probably will take a little bit more than three windows to get there, for sure. Just in terms of the robustness, adaptability, and compatibility of the squad, I think there's still a fair bit of change we need to do.

"I certainly don't think we're one or two players away from getting to where I want us to be, nowhere near it. Some of that will be natural evolution. Some of it hopefully means we continue to get the improvement we've had this year from some of our players. If that happens over the next 12 months, then we'll be in a great position."

One position you didn't expect them to be planning for is between the sticks, especially after Guglielmo Vicario's fantastic debut campaign as Tottenham's undisputed number one to replace Hugo Lloris.

The Italian was praised for some of his heroic displays, but given Fraser Forster is their only senior back-up, a report from Spain states that Spurs are now targeting Espanyol keeper Joan Garcia.

Garcia tempted to join Tottenham after potentially concrete offer

Spanish newspaper AS claims Tottenham are the team "most tempting" Garcia, who helped Espanyol achieve promotion back to La Liga at the first time of asking.

They add that Spurs could have already sent a concrete proposal to the 23-year-old, though don't exactly clarify whether it has definitely gone in. The Spaniard, who will represent his country in the Olympics soon, is described as a key player in Espanyol's quest back to La Liga – and he's now being chased by clubs all over Europe as a result.

Garcia's deal is also thought to include a £21 million release clause.

Will they bring in Ngidi or Hazlewood instead of Bravo to handle the KKR allrounder?

Karthik Krishnaswamy06-Oct-20206:43

How should Kolkata utilise Sunil Narine?

Big pictureTheir batting looked short of power and inspiration through their first four matches of the season, but something clicked into place for the Chennai Super Kings against Kings XI Punjab on Sunday. Yes, nothing masks problems like a 181-run opening stand, but that wasn’t the only encouragement the Super Kings took out of that game. With Ambati Rayudu and Dwayne Bravo back from injury, their line-up just looks a whole lot healthier, and with three No. 8s at Nos. 9, 10, and 11 – in Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar and Piyush Chawla – they have the sort of depth few other sides in the IPL can match.This isn’t to say the Super Kings have turned into a world-beating outfit overnight, or even that they can consistently beat the IPL’s heavyweights. Kings XI didn’t aim high enough with the bat, and their bowling attack is one of the weakest in the tournament. The Kolkata Knight Riders are likely to present the Super Kings a far stiffer challenge.The Knight Riders haven’t quite found their groove yet this season, with Sunil Narine and Dinesh Karthik looking off-colour and with Andre Russell and Pat Cummins not quite hitting peak form just yet. The law of averages, however, suggests at least one of them will come roaring back into form in the very near future, and the Super Kings will hope they aren’t at the receiving end when that happens.Likely XIsChennai Super Kings: 1 Shane Watson, 2 Faf du Plessis, 3 Ambati Rayudu, 4 Kedar Jadhav, 5 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Dwayne Bravo, 8 Sam Curran, 9 Shardul Thakur, 10 Deepak Chahar, 11 Piyush ChawlaKolkata Knight Riders: 1 Sunil Narine, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Nitish Rana, 4 Dinesh Karthik (capt & wk), 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Andre Russell, 7 Rahul Tripathi, 8 Pat Cummins, 9 Kamlesh Nagarkoti, 10 Shivam Mavi, 11 Varun ChakravarthyMS Dhoni has a discussion with Andre Russell and Sunil Narine•BCCI

Strategy punt The one thing that makes all three of the Knight Riders’ big overseas hitters – Narine at the top of the order, and Russell and Eoin Morgan lower down – uncomfortable, to varying extents, is fast, short-pitched bowling. Unlike the Mumbai Indians or the Delhi Capitals, however, the Super Kings don’t have anyone in their first-choice attack who can bowl in that manner. Just for this reason, they might think of bringing back either Lungi Ngidi or Josh Hazlewood, in place of Dwayne Bravo. It wouldn’t be an easy change to make, given that Bravo, apart from his death-bowling skills, adds real heft to their lower order, and just his presence helps free up the batsmen playing above him. But if there’s one opposition that calls out for including at least one out-and-out fast bowler in your attack, it’s the Knight Riders. This becomes even more imperative when you consider how destructive Russell has been against the Super Kings in recent seasons. Since 2018, he’s scored 98 runs in the slog overs (16-20) against the Super Kings without being dismissed. And why leave out Bravo? Maybe because Russell has hit him for 78 runs in 30 balls across four innings in the IPL, without being dismissed. Why bowl fast and short to Russell? Well, since the 2018 season, fast bowlers have dismissed him significantly more times while bowling short (9) than any other length, according to ESPNcricinfo’s data, with the traditional good length (4) a distant second. His control percentage against short balls (53.25) is his lowest against any length, and his strike rate against short balls (170.13) is the second-lowest behind yorkers (110.53). Yorkers come with very little margin for error, though, with Russell striking at 228.95 against full-tosses and 337.50 against full balls. Short balls have a greater margin for error, with Russell striking at 175.32 against short-of-good-length balls. The key wicket for the Knight Riders, meanwhile, could be Shane Watson. The Australian opener has made ten 40-plus scores for the Super Kings, and nine of them have come in wins. How can the Knight Riders rein Watson in? Narine hasn’t been the force he used to be with the ball, but he has excellent numbers against Watson: 28 balls over six innings, conceding just 29 runs and dismissing him four times. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to hand Narine the new ball. Stats that matter In Sam Curran, the Super Kings have a genuine lower-order asset they could look to promote more often. Of all batsmen who’ve faced at least 60 balls in the IPL since the 2019 season, Curran’s strike rate of 197.29 is the third-highest behind Jofra Archer (198.46) and Russell (197.87). Even more impressively, Curran’s strike rate of 177 over the first 10 balls of his innings is better than anyone else in IPL history. MS Dhoni has famously never hit a boundary off Narine in the IPL. That run of no fours and sixes extends to 12 meetings, which have produced 29 runs off 59 balls, and one dismissal. Dhoni needs one six to reach 300 in T20 cricket. Russell needs two wickets to reach 300 in T20s. Pat Cummins needs one wicket to reach 100 in T20s.

England Test opener adds half-century to first-innings ton as Surrey defeat Sussex by six wickets

ECB Reporters Network09-Sep-2020

Rory Burns raises his bat for a century•Getty Images

England Test opener Rory Burns added 52 to his first-innings hundred to lead Surrey to their first victory of the Bob Willis Trophy, at the final attempt, in a six-wicket win against Sussex at the Kia Oval.Surrey captain Burns was joined in a decisive third-wicket partnership of 64 in 14 overs by Jamie Smith, who scored 33 from 51 balls as a fourth-innings target of 156 was chased down in 44.5 overs on a turning pitch.There was a late twist to a well-contested match, however, when 16-year-old debutant James Coles – Sussex’s youngest first-class cricketer – dismissed both Smith and Burns in the space of four balls to leave Surrey 120 for 4.Ben Foakes, on 1, then edged Delray Rawlins just short of slip but he survived to finish on 13 not out, hitting the winning blow when he pulled the same bowler for six after a necessarily circumspect fifth-wicket stand of 37 in 18 overs with Will Jacks, who ended up unbeaten on 22.Victory was eventually completed a little over an hour after lunch on a day which began with Sussex resuming their second innings on 109 for 9 after a torrid final session the previous evening against Surrey spinners Dan Moriarty and Amar Virdi.They made 128 in the end, thanks to Stuart Meaker’s defiant 42, but a policy of controlled and sensible aggression by Surrey’s top order paid dividends as Burns and company never allowed Sussex’s own trio of young spinners to settle.Jack Carson, the highly-promising 19-year-old off-spinner, did remove Scott Borthwick for 11 in the eighth over, having been given the new ball, and Rawlins’ left-arm spin then accounted for Hashim Amla for the second time in the match, caught low at short leg, before the Burns-Smith alliance looked like taking Surrey to a comfortable win.But Coles’s double strike when brought back to bowl his fourth over, first bowling Smith middle stump with an arm ball – his third ball back – and then having Burns stumped by Ben Brown after beating his forward push on the outside, at least concentrated Surrey minds again and the youngster finished with figures of 2 for 32 from 11 overs.All-rounder Coles, a student at Oxford’s Magdalen College and brought up in the Oxfordshire age group teams before joining the Sussex Academy at the end of last year, is believed to be the second-youngest player – after Pakistan’s Shoaib Malik – to take three wickets or more on first-class debut.The Surrey chase began with Borthwick managing one straight six off Carson before he was caught at slip from one that turned and bounced, and Amla’s 18 included two sixes – straight off Carson and then pulled over the mid wicket ropes off Rawlins.Surrey had earlier finished off Sussex’s second innings for 128, with off-spinner Virdi taking the final wicket for figures of 4 for 40. Slow left-arm spinner Moriarty, the chief destroyer of Sussex’s second innings, ended with 6 for 70.Sussex added another 19 runs before Meaker went down the pitch to Virdi but could only pick out Jamie Overton at long on after putting on 26 for the last wicket with No. 11 Henry Crocombe, who remained 9 not out and hit one lovely on-driven four off Moriarty.

أعلن الجهاز الفني لفريق كرة الطائرة للرجال بالنادي الأهلي، بقيادة المدرب الإسباني فيرناندو مونزو، عن القائمة النهائية التي ستمثل القلعة الحمراء في بطولة كأس العالم للأندية لكرة الطائرة.

ومن المقرر أن تستضيف البطولة دولة البرازيل خلال الفترة من 10 إلى 15 ديسمبر الجاري.

وتضم القائمة نخبة من أبرز لاعبي الفريق، حيث تم اختيارهم بعناية فائقة لتمثيل الأهلي في هذا المحفل الدولي الكبير. وسيقود البعثة مهند مجدي عضو مجلس إدارة النادي.

وأوقعت القرعة الأهلي في مجموعة صعبة تضم كلاً من بارايا البرازيلي مستضيف البطولة، ولوبي سيتيانوفا الإيطالي وصيف بطل أوروبا، وفولاد سيرجان الإيراني بطل آسيا.

سبق للأهلي أن شارك في مونديال الأندية ثلاث مرات من قبل، وكانت آخر مشاركة له في عام 2015. ويسعى الفريق في هذه النسخة لتحقيق نتائج إيجابية والتأكيد على مكانته كأحد أفضل فرق كرة الطائرة في إفريقيا.

طالع أيضًا | الأهلي يفوز على دلفي ويواصل انتصاراته في دوري سيدات الطائرة قائمة الأهلي في كأس العالم للأندية لكرة الطائرة

عبد الله عبد السلام

عبد الحليم عبو

أحمد صلاح

عبد الرحمن سعودي

محمد عسران

عبد الرحمن الحسيني

حسام يوسف

محمد رمضان

سيف عابد

محمد عثمان

مصطفى جابر

خالد عادل

إسلام عبد السميع

زياد أسامة

يوندر جارسيا

تحدث الفرنسي كيليان مبابي مهاجم ريال مدريد، في تصريحات عقب الفوز أمام جيرونا بمنافسات بطولة الدوري الإسباني.

وسجل مبابي هدفًا ساهم في فوز فريقه ريال مدريد بثلاثية دون رد، خلال المباراة بين الفريقين، وأشاد بزميله جود بيلينجهام. 

وقال مبابي في تصريحات نشرتها صحيفة “ماركا” الإسبانية: “مباراة صعبة، نعلم أهمية المباراة، لديهم الكثير من الاستحواذ لكننا بدأنا بشكل جيد للغاية، سجلنا في الشوط الأول وفي الثاني عدنا بقوة، سجلنا هدفين، ونحن نسيطر على المباراة”.

وعن هدفه، أضاف: “إن مساعدة الفريق واللعب بشخصية ومساعدة الفريق على الفوز جزء من وظيفتي”.

اقرأ أيضًا | أنشيلوتي يوضح موقف بيلينجهام وميندي من مباراة ريال مدريد وأتالانتا

وبشأن أداء بيلينجهام، أردف: “لا يصدق، لاعب عظيم، اللعب هنا مع لاعبين ذوي جودة عالية هو متعة، بيلينجهام لعب مباراة رائعة، وكذلك فعل إبراهيم دياز وأردا جولر، نحن فريق وسعداء للغاية بانتصار اليوم”.

وأتم بشأن المباراة القادمة ضد أتالانتا، في دوري أبطال أوروبا: “إنه دوري أبطال أوروبا، عندما تلعبه يكون لديك دائمًا فرق قوية، علينا أن نفوز لأننا خسرنا المباراة الأخيرة ونحن مستعدون للذهاب والمنافسة والفوز”.

Counties will face no sanctions if they fall under the salary collar – the minimum sum they are permitted to spend on player wages – in 2020, as the English game looks to protect jobs during the Covid-19 crisis.16 out of 18 counties have used the government’s job-retention scheme to furlough their playing staff, and the majority of overseas signings for this season have had their contracts cancelled or deferred.According to the terms of the County Partnership Agreement (CPA) signed between the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA), the ECB and the first-class counties last year, counties should spend between £1.5-£2.5 million on player wages annually. Sanctions might have included reduced ECB incomes or points deductions, but none will be imposed if counties fall under the collar this year.ALSO READ: Hundred faces salary cuts and partial re-draft“We’ve relaxed the salary collar that was in [place] for the counties this year,” Daryl Mitchell, the PCA chairman, told ESPNcricinfo. “With the cuts that have gone on and the situation with overseas players, there would probably be teams that would fall under the collar, but there will be no punishment for that which enables counties to hopefully be able to keep players on their books with the savings they’ve made so far.”Nobody would have foreseen what has happened in any industry, let alone cricket. The CPA was put in place 12 months ago or so. With Covid, county finances and ECB finances are going to look completely different.”The CPA also introduced a new minimum wage of £27,500 for full-time professionals and new rookie contracts for young players aged 18-21. But, due to the impact of the pandemic, counties will be able to roll rookie contracts over to next year even if players are 22 by the time the season starts, and the PCA has discussed relaxing the minimum wage internally.”No county has actually mentioned that [the minimum wage] to us yet,” Mitchell said. “There’s not been any sort of approach to see what we can do around that, but it has been discussed internally and the reality is that our priority is to keep as many members as we can in jobs. It’s almost a fallow year with so little cricket – it will be a minimal amount compared to a full season, so rookies can stay on rookie contracts for an extra year where previously they wouldn’t have been allowed. There’s flexibility there.”As things stand, the PCA’s particular concern is about the 134 players whose contracts are up at the end of the season. Northamptonshire have already confirmed that they will not offer Rob Newton, the opening batsman, a new deal, and county directors of cricket have admitted that it will be harder than usual to keep players on the staff.Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire’s director of cricket•Getty Images

Yorkshire, for example, have given players an indication as to whether they are likely to win new deals, and have committed to making a firm decision before the end of July, with Martyn Moxon, the director of cricket, admitting on Monday that “a number of decisions will be made on financial reasons and not cricketing ones”.”They’re the most vulnerable of our members at the moment,” Mitchell said. “In any given year we generally lose 40-50 players from the game through being released or retired. Inevitably, with the financial situation the game finds itself in, those numbers are going to be higher this year.”The PCA’s retirement fund has already been bolstered by the prize money pots from the County Championship and the Royal London Cup this year, while it is hoped that a change in dates in standard contracts – which now runs until November – will ensure those leaving the game have a smoother transition.There has been a slight increase in the number of players using the PCA’s mental health support network during lockdown – a slight drop-off at the start followed by a spike up – and players will be asked to opt into any cricket that is possible this year.Mitchell admitted that it would be difficult to avoid a situation whereby players in the final year of the contracts feel under pressure to opt in. “They obviously want to put themselves in the shop window to earn a new contract or get a move elsewhere, so they are difficult decisions,” he said. “But as long as the player has that choice and has the support and backing of the PCA and their club, it should make it a smoother process.”ALSO READ: Most counties built to last through Covid-19 crisis, says Surrey chiefMitchell said that he was “confident” some form of county cricket would be possible this year, with Worcestershire and Surrey resuming training on Monday after Lancashire did so last week. A final decision on dates and formats is expected to be taken on July 6 or 7.”I think 14 out of 18 counties, per my understanding, are very keen to play red-ball cricket, and then the other four would prefer to play one-day cricket,” Mitchell said. “From the players’ point of view, I think we’ve got individual players who are red or white-ball only, so some sort of mix would probably suit the majority.”The main dividing line at present is the increased cost of four-day cricket, and the uncertainty surrounding the availability of hotels.”There’s a split of preference, but I think the majority – if not all – the CEOs have said they will play,” Mitchell said. “I don’t think [anyone] will opt out as a team. The last thing you want is two or three sides deciding not to play and you have 70 pros on the side watching everyone else playing.”I don’t think that would be acceptable. We need all 18 counties to buy into whatever competitions we can for the last couple of months of the season.”

Arsenal handed out bans for abusive and discriminatory behaviour to 24 supporters during the 2023-24 season.

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Arsenal disclose bans for last season21 given for in-stadium offences24% increase in online abuseGettyWHAT HAPPENED?

The Gunners have disclosed information surrounding 24 bans that were handed out to supporters for abusive and discriminatory behaviour during the 2023-24 season. Twenty-one of the bans were for in-stadium offences, while the remaining three were for online abuse.

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The supporters were all banned for at least one year, with 14 given three-year bans. This means they won't be able to attend any Arsenal match, home or away, during this period. The club, who finished second in the Premier League to Manchester City, revealed in-stadium offences included assault (10 fans banned), tragedy chanting (five), offensive gestures (two), racism (two), homophobia (one) and sexual assault (one). The online offences that resulted in three bans included racism, antisemitism and sending abusive messages.

GettyWHAT ARSENAL'S MANAGING DIRECTOR SAID

Richard Garlick, Arsenal's Managing Director, said: "Abuse and discrimination will not be tolerated. We will continue to take strong action alongside our partners such as the Met Police against this abhorrent behaviour.

"We know it's a small minority, but that won’t stop us from taking action against abusers who are identified as Arsenal season ticket holders or members, and escalating to the police where appropriate.

"Our aim is to create an environment at Arsenal where everybody feels welcome. We hope continued action serves as a deterrent for those using abusive, threatening, and discriminatory language."

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DID YOU KNOW?

Arsenal are working with data science company Signify Group to tackle targeted online abuse, using their specialist Threat Matrix to detect and report content aimed at players and coaches. The club noted online abuse among its members declined 90% on the 2022-23 season, but there was a 24% increase in online abuse that targeted players and coaches last season.

A manager who Sir Jim Ratcliffe has already spoken with is reportedly now being lined up to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United.

Man Utd manager rumours

The Red Devils haven’t had a successful season so far, sitting sixth in the Premier League, being knocked out of the Champions League at the group stage and failing to defend the EFL Cup.

However, United and Ten Hag are still competing in the FA Cup and are preparing to take on Coventry City in the semi-final at Wembley.

There is still something to play to salvage the season, but there has been plenty of speculation over who could possibly take over from Ten Hag ahead of Ratcliffe’s first full season as co-owner.

Related Man Utd want 4-2-3-1 manager who plays “sublime football” to oust Ten Hag

The Red Devils have concrete interest in him.

Posts ByHenry Jackson Apr 3, 2024

Recent claims have suggested Ten Hag’s future is a 50/50 call at this moment in time, with initial talks already held with Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi. England boss Gareth Southgate has also been linked as a candidate alongside Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou who is another mooted option. Surprisingly, Brentford’s Thomas Frank has been named as another top target.

However, it is a boss who Ratcliffe has been linked with previously who has been making waves in the media once again.

Graham Potter in line for Man Utd job with Ten Hag resigned to sack

According to The Sun’s Neil Custis, a number of Man Utd players believe that Ten Hag has resigned himself to the sack at the end of the season. It is believed that the Dutchman has changed in recent weeks, with Ratcliffe failing to give him the vote of confidence in public.

Another manager to be linked with a move to Old Trafford over the last six months has been Graham Potter. The former Chelsea boss has already spoken with Ratcliffe and recently turned down the job at Ajax, with Custis now again saying Potter is in line to take over.

The 48-year-old has now been out of work for over a year after parting ways at Stamford Bridge. He did come in for praise at the start of his Chelsea tenure from Darren Bent, who said: "What Graham Potter is doing there with the Chelsea players and the English contingent is fantastic and it bodes well for England.

“All he can do is get the players playing well, playing to his system and I still think there’s more to come. If you watch the game against Villa you have to say that they didn’t look at their best. It was two goalkeeping mistakes but they still got a result."

It was Potter’s work at Brighton that caught the eye of Chelsea, playing an attractive style of football, and you’d expect the 3-4-2-1 manager has been hard at work over the last 12 months ahead of a return to the dugout.

It looks as if a move to Old Trafford for Potter is one to keep an eye on once more, with Ratcliffe a huge fan.

Liverpool fans are salivating at the prospect of signing a midfield star once coveted by Arsenal, Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

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Liverpool eager to sign £52m midfielderSpain star expected to agree to transferReds fans delighted by likely dealWHAT HAPPENED?

The Reds are expected to wrap up the signing of the midfielder after it was reported they are prepared to trigger the €60 million (£52m/$66m) release clause in his contract, and the Spain international is said to be eager to make the move.

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The signing of the Real Sociedad star would be a major coup for the Anfield club given he was previously wanted by other top sides. It was claimed in May that he decided against a move to Arsenal, while United had identified him as an alternative to Manuel Ugarte. Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid were also said to be after him.

WHAT THE FANS ARE SAYING

A move to Merseyside appears to be the likely outcome at this point, though, and the prospect of beating other top teams to his signature has lifted the mood of a few Reds supporters.

After outlining the top European sides that Zubimendi has rejected in order to choose Liverpool, X user Raws declared: "Now that’s what you call pull."

Another fan said on social media: "Zubimendi said he’s not leaving Spain to Arsenal, Man Utd and Bayern, until Liverpool came along and he’s already got his bags packed. When you’re big, you’re big." They followed that up with another mocking post, saying: "Mikel Arteta, who is Spanish, went to Real Sociedad, a Spanish club who he played for, asked for Zubimendi and was told to f*ck off. If I speak, I’m in big trouble."

"Zubimendi to Liverpool basically done in a day….well done. That's how you operate as "Best in class"," said Manchester United fan channel presenter Mark Goldbridge.

Sibi stated: "Took us one day to wrap up Zubimendi. Liverpool FC we don't mess around".

"Zubimendi has accepted the move to Liverpool.. tears in my eyes," said another member of the Liverpool faithful.

Matt Thielen said: "VERY excited for this one. Zubimendi seems the perfect No.6 for Slot's system—quite the first senior signing for [sporting director Richard] Hughes and co."

After pointing out that he will be signing for around half the price Arsenal paid to get Decan Rice, Nick Davies wrote: "WE ARE SO BACK".

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Getty/GOALWHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL?

The Reds are yet to finalise the deal, with reporting that the two clubs have not yet reached an agreement on a transfer fee, but Real Sociedad expect him to make the switch to the Premier League side.